Extensible legged film file case and projector table



June 20, 1961 R. A. NOAH 2,989,329

EXTENSIBLE LEGGED FILM FILE CASE AND PROJECTOR TABLE Filed Aug. 28. 1958FIG. 3 F76. 4

INVENTOR Ross A. Noa/z Sgm ',ZM BY 3m i mi ATTORNEYG My inventionrelates to a novel carrying case for transporting movie film and otherarticles and which is also adapted to serve as a projector supportingstand or table, the latter having novel extensible legs which can behoused within the case to facilitate transportation and storage of same.

Briefly and generally stated, the invention contemplates a device forthe purpose specified and for other purposes, which is simple inconstruction, strong and durable, and which provides meanswherebyextensible sections of the legs can be securely locked in eitherextended or retracted relationship with respect to the case.

Also contemplated, is a device of this character which is neat andattractive in appearance and will contribute materially tothe appearanceof a home.

Gther objects and advantages of the invention will be readily understoodand appreciated by those versed in the art upon reference to theaccompanying drawing which illustrates a now preferred example of myinvention. It is to be understood, however, that the drawing disclosureis to be taken as illustrative, rather than limitative, and that myinventive concept is susceptible of other mechanical expressions withinthe spirit and scope of the subject matter claimed hereinafter.

In the drawing, wherein the same reference characters have been used todesignate the same parts throughout the several views- FIG. 1 is aperspective view of a device embodying my invention;

FIG 2 is a side elevational view partly broken and partly in section,and illustrating the device in use as a projector stand for a motionpicture projector;

FIG 3 is a view partly broken and partly in longitudinal sectionillustrating the novel leg construction; and

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of one of the legs takenapproximately at right angles to FIG. 3.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters, numeral 8 indicates acase or cabinet for the tiling of reels of movie film, etc., the samehaving a hinged carrying handle secured to its top and located in arecess 10 thereof so that the handle can be folded down out of the -waywhen, for instance, the unit is used to support a moving pictureprojector 7, as indicated in FIG. 2. j

FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing also show the cabinet or case 8 as havingone side providing a door 11 which is hinged adjacent the casing base asindicated at 12, there being provided a finger piece or lock element 13to maintain the door closed and to facilitate manipulation of the same.

The extensible legs 14 which project from the bottom of the cabinet aregenerally indicated by reference character 14 and as will be moreclearly understood later on, these legs are adapted to be completelyreceived in the cabinet or case 8 as suggested in FIG. 2.

Since the structure and mounting of each of the legs 14 is the same, adescription of one will suiiice for all. Thus, referring to FIGS. 3 and4, it will be noted that each leg 14 comprises an upper tubular section15 which is secured by interior case wall-carried bands 19, each legsection 15 being open through the bottom of the case as indicated inFIG. 2. The shiftable telescoping sections of the legs 14 comprise theintermediate tubular section 16, which telescopes into section 15, andthe outer or lower section y17 which telescopes into section ited StatesPatent 16 and carries the rubber or other anti-friction tip 18 at itsouter end, as indicated in the drawings.

In carrying out the invention, I provide each upper case orcabinet-carried leg section 15 with an upper interior collar 15a and alower interior collar 15b which are suitably secured in place by setscrews 20, or otherwise. The intermediate leg section v16 which slidesin section 15 in spaced relationship to the interior surface of thelatter, is in part guided by the lower collar 15b of the leg section 15,and in part by an exterior stop collar 16a which is secured to section16 inwardly of its upper end by set screw 21 as shown.

The lowermost leg section |17 is spacedly centered for sliding movementin the intermediate leg section 16 by means of an upper exterior stopcollar 17a, secured to section y17 by a pin 17b, and in conjunction thelower collar 16b which is interiorly secured, as at 16a, to theintermediate leg section 16.

It is to be noted from an inspection of FIG. 3 that the upper collar ofleg section 15 hasits lower edge cut with a bayonet slot 30 providing alateral pin seating extension 30a; and that its lower collar has asimilar slot 23, but located in its upper edge and providing apin-seating extension 23a. The function of these bayonet slots 30, 23will be explained later on along with the function of the similarbayonet slots 27, 25 (see FIG. 3) which are provided in the lower andupper edges, respectively, of the internal collars 28, 16b of theintermediate leg section 16.

When the leg sections 1'6, 17 are fully extended, the upper exteriorcollar 17a of the lower section 17 will rest on the upper end of theinterior collar 16b. With the parts in this position, the fixed andoutwardly extending pin 24 of section 17 will have come to rest on thelower edge of the bayonet slot 25 of collar 16b and by a twist actioncan be finally located in the lateral extension 25a of said slot, so asto maintain 16, 17 against relative longitudinal movement.

Similarly, when the intermediate section 16 has been pulled out untilits upper exterior collar 16a rests on the upper end of the lowerinterior collar 15b of upper section 15, the fixed and exteriorlyprojecting pin 22 of section 16 will rest on the lower edge of thebayonet slot 23 of collar 15b. Thus, a twistof section 16 in thedirection of the lateral extension 23a of slot 23 will lock section 16against longitudinal movement. Thus, it will be understood, the legs 14are firmly retained in extended position by reason of the pin and collarslot provided connections noted.

When the extensible leg sections 16, 17 are to be housedv in thecasing-carried uppersection 15, the leg section 17 is given a twist tofree its pin 24 from the slot 25, 25a

of the collar 16b whereupon the outer leg section 17 is slid upwardlyuntil its collar 17a engages the lower end of the interior collar 28 ofthe intermediate leg section 16. When this happens, the fixed outwardlyprojecting pin 26 of section 17 above its collar 17a will be at theinner edge of the bayonet slot 27 of the upper collar 28 of section 16,and can be readily located in the lateral slot extension 27a by a twistof section 17 in that direction. Upon accomplishment of this, the rubbertip 18 will be outwardly of but adjacent the lower end of intermediatesection 16.

Next the intermediate section 16, with the lower section 17 completelyhoused therein except for tip 18, s actuated inwardly until its exteriorcollar 16a engages the lower edge of the upper interior collar 15a ofleg section 15. Now the fixed outwardly extending pin 29 of intermediatesection 16, which is located above its collar 16a, will engage the upperedge of the bayonet slot 30 of the outer section collar 15a. A twist ofsection 16 in the direction of the lateral extension 30a Patented June20, 1961 Y 3 of slot 30 serves to lock section 16 against outwardmovement.

It is to be understood that when the leg sections are fully telescopedinto one another, the tips 18 will project from the bottom of the case 8slightly so as to provide supports for same, such as are frequentlyemployed with luggage and other items to protect the bottom thereof fromwear.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. In a supporting leg for a combined film file case and projectorsupporting unit or the like, said leg providing extensible, telescopingouter, intermediate, and inner sections of which the outer andintermediate sections have a circular internal cross section, with theintermediate and inner sections being also circular in external crosssection, so as to admit of relative rotation of the sections, the outerone of said sections adapted to be secured to a case, the intermediateand inner sections being sulliciently smaller diametrically than thesurrounding section so as to be spaced from the inner wall surfaces ofthe latter when the sections are concentrically assembled, and an innersection-.provided foot extension which projects outwardly beyond theouter end of the intermediate section when the inner section is fullyinserted thereinto; the improvement which comprises cooperating internaland external bearing collars secured in longitudinal end to endalignment to different adjacent ones of said sections with the internalcollars fixedly located adjacent each end of the outer and intermediatesections and having bearing-providing inner ends, the external collarsxedly secured to the intermediate and inner sections and spaced inwardlyof the respective inner ends of the latter, each end of the exteriorcollars providing a continuous and uninterrupted bearing for contiguousload-sustaining engagement with the opposed bearing ends of the internalcollars of the adjacent surrounding section, the bearingproviding endsof each of said interior and exterior collars being wholly in a planenormal to the longitudinal leg axis, the bearing-providing end of eachinterior collar being interrupted only by the axially extending entryend of a bayonet slot which provides a laterally extending inner end,two pins carried by and projecting outwardly from each of theintermediate and inner sections, said pins respectively spaced outwardlyfrom opposite bearing ends ofthe related external collars a distancecorresponding to the spacement of the related lateral bayonet slot endinwardly from the bearing end of the opposed `internal collar, wherebyany one of the pins, having been engaged with the bearing end of theopposed internal collar, can be readily engaged in the latters bayonetslot entry by relative rotation of the related sections in eitherdirection and thereafter located in the lateral bayonet slot end toretain the opposed internal and external collarprovided bearing ends inload-sustaining engagement.

2. In a supporting leg for a combined riilm iile case and projectorsupporting unit or the like, said leg providing extensible telescopingouter and inner sections, the outer section having a circular internalcross section and the inner section a circular external cross section,the outer section adapted to be secured to a case, the external diameterof the inner section being suciently small so that the inner sectionwill be spaced from the inner wall surfaces of the outer section whenthe sections are concentrically assembled, and an inner section-providedfoot extension which projects outwardly beyond the outer end of theouter section when the inner section is fully inserted thereinto; theimprovement which comprises cooperating internal and external bearingcollars secured in longitudinal end to end alignment to outer and innersections respectively, with the internal collars iixedly locatedadjacent each end of the inner section and having bearing-providinginner ends, the external collar fixedly secured to the inner section andspaced inwardly of the inner end of the latter, each end of the exteriorcollar providing a continuous and uninterrupted bearing for contiguousload-sustaining engagement with the opposed bearing ends of the internalcollars ofthe outer section, the bearing-providing ends of each of saidinterior and exterior collars being wholly in a plane normal to thelongitudinal leg axis, the bearing-providing end of each interior collarbeing interrupted only by the axially extending entry end of a bayonetslot which provides a laterally extending inner end portion, two pinscarried by and projecting outwardly from the inner section andrespectively spaced outwardly from opposite bearing ends of the externalcollar of the inner section a distance corresponding to the longitudinalspacement of the related lateral bayonet slot end from the bearing endof the opposed internal collar, whereby any one of the pins, having beenengaged with the bearing end of the opposed internal collar, can bereadily engaged in the latters bayonet slot entry by relative rotationof the related sections in either direction and thereafter located inthe lateral bayonet slot end to retain the opposed internal and externalcollar-provided bearing ends in load-sustaining engagement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS701,042 Holmes May 27, 1902 2,009,791 Shroyer July 30, 1935 2,301,414Koehl Nov. 10, 1942 2,330,173 Gordon Sept. 21, 1943 2,719,771 Hoven etal. Oct. 4, 1955 2,806,723 Fairclough Sept. 17, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS156,241 Germany Nov. 29, 1903 550,853 France Mar. 22, 1923 581,685Germany Aug. 1, 1933

